Fettered Friday and A Blind Contour

I really wanted to use hog-tied, not fettered, but the desire for an alliterative name took precedence.

I have so many ideas about how I might finish a handmade journal that I find myself settling for inactivity instead of making a decision. For instance, the small journal with the French Link stitch that I showed yesterday is waiting for a cover decision. I have chosen the paper and it is a perfect choice. The big decision that I am a bit iffy on is whether to just glue the tapes to the outside as they are; or to cut them to staggered lengths and then glue them; or to cut slits into the covers and pull them through and glue them on the inside; or whether to use decorative stitching to hold them to the covers with or without glue. Ack!!!!!!!

I think that a part of me is afraid to try making slits in the cover in case I mess it up. I need to remind myself that it is only paper and try it. The slitted option is what I am most interested in trying and I think I am going to grab the bull by the horns and try it later this morning.

Do you find yourself in similar circumstances when you are contemplating doing some kind of creative activity?

By the way, do you notice the new graphic over on the right? The Sketchbook Challenge begins on 1/1/2011. Read all about it here or click on the gadget on the right. I am hoping to use this as incentive to remember to draw every day next year. What about you? Are you up for the challenge? I double dog dare you!!!


I am happy to report that I have actually remembered to do a blind contour today. It is not necessarily a wonderful sketch to show you, but I really like the practice and am pleased that I remembered. I used my left hand (as it was near to hand, hah!) coiled a bit in a relaxed pose.

I think it would help a bit to put in the inside lines and such, but for now I am limiting myself to the outside contour.

I have my little girls today - Miss 3 will be brought out here by her Mom around 1:00 pm and Little Miss 7 will ride the bus to my house. I've talked to my son and he is picking up his Little Miss 7 from school around 4 pm. He is planning to come out, too. We will bake and decorate Christmas cookies tonight. I think I will also get out markers, wine corks, buttons, and glue and see what kind of decorations these crafty little ones will come up with.

I think the girls are probably staying overnight. Maybe they'll help Poppa make pancakes in the morning. They just love to get their aprons on and cook.

I really need to get some good pix of these three girls. Most of the time they are at my house, they are so wound up, all I get are blurs. Here is one of my favorites from summer of this year.

My girl tribe.

Of course, it is already almost 4 months later. Where does the time go?

I'm going to get another mug of coffee and then am hoping to get on the treadmill and still get the cover of the French Link book done today.

xoxo